Youth in Eckville are stepping into the spotlight with a fun and ambitious new theatre production later this month.

The Youth Initiative Project will present Murder at the Malt Shop on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Eckville Junior/Senior High School. The 70-minute show is a lighthearted comedy mystery filled with quirky characters, 1950s references, puns and a classic whodunit storyline.

“It’s a murder mystery set in the ’50s, and we have a lot of fun, different characters,” says cast member Hayzlee Oslund, who plays the narrator and radio host.

Lincoln Schickerowski, who plays the town sheriff, says he enjoys the cat-and-mouse aspect of the role and hints at a plot twist.

Bobbie Pinz plays a cheerleader whose character faces a series of misadventures while trying to clear her name. She says she enjoys the comedic aspects of the role, including the boys’ characters’ attempts to impress her.

Schickerowski says he also enjoyed the challenge of memorizing his lines.

The production marks the first for Eckville’s Youth Initiative Project, a program supported by the Town of Sylvan Lake Family Resource Network. Child and Youth Empowerment Coach Jodi Oslund says the initiative gives young people a chance to turn their ideas into reality while building confidence and community connections.

Cast member Axzel Oslund says the play also marks the end of a long absence of stage productions at Eckville School.

“It has been more than 25 years since we’ve done a theatre production here — it’s really good to get back into it,” he says.

He adds that his role includes song and dance, which he enjoyed preparing for.

Students rehearse for ‘Murder at the Malt Shop’ at Eckville Jr/Jr High School, April 2, 2026. (Eckville Recreation Arts and Culture/Jodi Oslund)

The project has drawn strong participation, with 16 cast members, three crew members and about a dozen additional student volunteers. Oslund says the youth have taken ownership of every aspect of the production, from set building and costumes to ticket design and technical setup.

The show is recommended for ages eight and up, with an interactive intermission planned to keep the audience involved.

Tickets are $10, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and the show starting at 6 p.m.

(Eckville Recreation Arts and Culture)